My family will be the first to tell you that I’m not good at sharing. I know, it’s a horrible trait. I also don’t like working in groups or cooking together, either (unless I get to be responsible for one dish and the other person is responsible for his or hers — but I’m not rolling the same piece of pizza dough). It probably relates to my need for control; if something goes wrong and it’s not my fault, I don’t want to be held responsible, but if something turns out perfect, I want all the credit.
But part of being green is learning to be more open-minded, especially about ownership and resources. So from now on, if I need a random tool like a screwdriver or a wrench, I’ll ask my dad if I can borrow one from his tool kit. If friends want to read something on my bookshelf, I’ll let them take the book and give it back when they’re finished. And if I make a batch of stove-top cookies, I’ll eat a couple myself, but give away the rest.
I think that this will be one of the things that you will put in the Loving It list.
With you on all of those. Is this your way of asking me to make you some cookies? I will tomorrow. And when I drop them off- don’t think I’m not going to have a peruse of your alphabetized book collection.
I like this idea–I’ve been doing similar things for a couple of years mainly because I’m cheap! I borrow drills, spackel (when moving), books, garden tools, and lots of other things from friends and neighbors. I have neighbors who are also good friends, so it actually gives life the feeling of being in a co-op. When their car bit the dust a week ago, we spent an afternoon talking about the logistics of simply sharing my car between two households. The practicalities would have worked out fine, we realized, but with them adding more miles and me being the one to eventually sell it, it seemed like finances could ruin the friendship. But we still share dinners once or twice per week–one stove, more people eating “from” the energy we consumed.
My dad says: share books, tools, and kitchen utensils, but nothing of higher value than that!
Ooooooh, I hate sharing too! Not when it comes to letting people borrow books or anything (so long as I have already read them), but when it comes to working in groups – forget it! I hate sharing responsibility for things such as a group project for business class because it goes back to that whole “you’re only as strong as your weakest link thing”. I hate having to rely on someone if thier link in the chain is only a cheerio.
Have you thought about releasing books through Bookcrossing.com? That’s a variant of sharing, and a nice little way to recycle, too. From their website: “Read and release your books into the wild! Tag your used books with a unique tracking number, then follow their travels through the world at BookCrossing.”
Sorry if this repeats something you’ve already done. I’ve read darn near all your entries, but it’s possible I’ve missed a few.
I did Book Crossing this summer when I took a long trip. I had friends “donate” books to me that they didn’t want anymore and as I read them on my travels, I would leave them places and tell Bookcrossing where they were. So far only one book has been commented on, but it is neat to be in Toronto reading reviews from Namibia of a book I left there!
The side benefit to this was that all the space the books took up in my bag eventually was emptied and replaced by all the presents I brought back!
BookCrossing is marvellous – I’ve been doing it for six years today! (although my recent releases have slipped a bit)
I also use GreenMetropolis (UK only I think, but there must be North American equivalents) to help shift the books I’ve read and no longer want – and the plus there is that you can find plenty of volumes to replace them at not much money and second-hand.
But I mostly wanted to comment here because you’ve given me a reason to be a wee bit prouder of myself. I love baking. I use every possible bit of space in the oven for huge batches of cakey goodness, and then in a vain attempt to stop myself eating all of it, I take a lot of the results into work.
And here’s you saying this is a Good and Green Thing.
Giving people a warm glow is also environmentally friendly, just like smiling at strangers. Thank you!